Man Tang Hong Spicy Hotpot – Longest Queue in the Coffeeshop!

When we heard that there’s a mala hotpot near our new office, we knew we had to try it! Tucked away in a typical neighbourhood coffeeshop in Ubi Avenue 1 is Man Tang Hong Spicy Hotpot, which has been around for slightly more than 2 years. When we first arrived, I noticed that there was a perpetual queue at this stall. Customers queue in front of a huge refrigerator that’s packed with ingredients, and tell the uncle their selections.

Uncle then grabs each ingredient portion by portion, depending on the number of serving size that the customer has requested for. After paying, customers are given a buzzer that alert them when the food is ready for collection. At some point, when the coast seems clear, you may think that there is no queue, but actually, people are just waiting for their food at their tables.

The ingredients are not weighed so it all boils down to the uncle’s experience, accuracy and integrity when it comes to determining the portion. The customers don’t seem bothered by this though. Prices do not differ from typical Mala hotpot stalls — prices start from $1 for vegetables, $1.50 for mushrooms, $2 for processed foods and meats (such as Taiwan sausage, luncheon meat, chicken slices), and $3 for beef, lamb and seafood.

Our meal for two cost $13.50 and the bowl came filled with chicken, golden mushroom, instant noodle, black fungus, kang kong (water morning glory), lotus root and pigs intestine! The price is pretty reasonable, and is what I believe most other stalls charge too. The ingredients were nothing out of the ordinary, but the pigs intestine deserves a special mention as it did not have an odour.

The bowl was not as fragrant as I would have liked it to be and it wasn’t mouth numbing either. It was also slightly too oily. I ordered xiao la (low level of spiciness) and it was really not as spicy as the usual xiao la. I will definitely try zhong la (moderate level of spiciness) next time.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.